Electric circuit energizing lamps of a vehicle

ABSTRACT

This circuit controls two groups of lamps at the rear of a vehicle adjacent the right and left sides thereof, respectively, and two directional lamps on the front of the vehicle adjacent opposite sides thereof. It includes the usual brake-operated switch for simultaneously illuminating all of the lamps on the rear of the vehicle, two manually operable directional signals for selectively energizing one of the two rear groups of lamps for successive and cyclical energization concurrently with the intermittent energization of the corresponding front directional lamp, and a plurality of hazard switches for causing selective lamps at the front and rear of the vehicle to be energized intermittently, and independently of the operation of the brake and directional switches.

United States Patent Tetsuji Shimizu Nagoya;

Shozo Naito, Ama-gun; l-liroshi Tanaka, Motosu-gun, all of, Japan [72]Inventors [21] Appl. No. 838,521

[22] Filed July 2, 1969 [45] Patented Aug. 24, 1971 [73] AssigneeKabushiki Kaisha Tokai Rika Denki Seisakusho Oaza-shimoodia,Nishibiwajimacho, Nishikasugar-gun, Aichi Prefecture, Japan [32]Priority July 9, 1968 [33] Japan [3 l 43-47735 [54] ELECTRIC CIRCUITENERGIZING LAMPS OF A [50] Field of Search 1. 3340/82, 67

Primary ExaminerJohn W. Caldwell Assistant Examiner-Kenneth N. LeimerAttorneyB. Edward Shlesinger ABSTRACT: This circuit controls two groupsof lamps at the rear of a vehicle adjacent the right and left sidesthereof, respectively, and two directional lamps on the front of thevehicle adjacent opposite sides thereof. It includes the usualbrake-operated switch for simultaneously illuminating all of the lampson the rear of the vehicle, two manually operable directional signalsfor selectively energizing one of the two rear groups of lamps forsuccessive and cyclical energization concurrently with the intermittentenergization of the corresponding front directional lamp, and aplurality of hazard switches for causing selective lamps at the frontand rear of the vehicle to be energized intermittently, andindependently of the operation of the brake and directional switches.

ELECTRIC CIRCUIT ENERGIZING LAMPS OF A VEHICLE The present inventionrelates to an electric circuit common to winker lamps, brake lamps andhazard lamps of a vehicle, especially of an automobile, and capable ofenergizing or deenergizing some or all of said lamps as one desires.

An object of the present invention is to provide an electric circuit ofan automobile so arranged as to be connected to a group of lamps whichserve as winker or direction indicator lamps, brake lamps and hazardlamps, and to energize desired numbers of these lamps by selection ofswitches.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an electriccircuit so adapted that, when the switch for brake lamps and switch forwinker lamps are simultaneously turned to operative positions, lampsserving as direction indicators are energized and deenergizedpreferentially to the brake lamps.

A further object of the present invention is to provide an electriccircuit so adapted that, when the switches for hazard lamps are turnedto an operative position, all or desired numbers of said group of lampsare simultaneously energized or deenergized, energization ordeenergization of said lamps then being not controlled by operation ofthe brake switch and direction indicator switch.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide anelectric circuit for energizing a group of lamps of an automobile soconstructed that plural relays are provided so as to energize ordeenergize any of direction indicator lamps, brake lamps or hazard lampsselectively and automatically, according to operation of correspondingswitches, and that it is produced at a lower cost compared with thathaving transistors incorporated therein. 3

The accompanying drawing is a diagram of an electric circuit relating tothe present invention, wherein references LLl, LL2 and LL3 are a groupof lamps on the rear-left side of an automobile; LL4 is a front-leftside direction indicator lamp; RL1, RL2 and RL3 are a group of lamps onthe rear-right side of an automobile; RL4 is a front-right sidedirection indicator lamp, and PL is a pilot lamp provided within thecar.

SW1 is a switch for direction indicator lamps having two contacts andconnected to one electric circuit. SW21, SW22, SW23 and SW24 are a groupof switches for hazard lamps, consisting of four electric circuits andeach having two contacts. These switches may close circuits when theautomobile is stopped on the road due to the traffic accident such aspuncture of tires. These switches are referred to, for explanatoryconvenience, as a first hazard switch SW21, a second hazard switch SW22,a third hazard switch SW23 and a fourth hazard switch SW24,respectively. SW3 is a brake switch of a push button type which isautomatically turned to an operative position by operating the brakepedal.

Connection is as follows.

The first hazard switch SW21 has a movable terminal SW210 connected tothe positive pole of a potential source B such as battery, one fixedterminal SW21a connected to a movable terminal SW10 of the directionindicator switch SW1 through the normal direction of a diode D1 andfurther connected to the brake switch SW3, and another fixed terminalSW2lb connected to a fixed terminal SWla of direction indicator switchSW1 through the normal direction of a diode D2 and further connected tothe winding or coil of relay H interconnected between said fixedterminal SW2lb and diode D2, and grounded at one side.

The direction indicator switch SW1 has a fixed terminal SWla connectedto winding or coil of relay R grounded at one side and to a movableterminal r of a second contact r2 of said relay R, and another fixedterminal SWlb connected to winding or coil of relay L grounded at oneside and to a movable terminal r10 of a first contact rl of said relayR.

The fixed terminals rla and r2a of the first and second contacts rl andr2 of said relay R are connected to each other,

and a junction point therebetween is connected to one side of respectivecoils of relays A1, A2 and A3 respectively arranged at a first stagecircuit A, a second stage circuit A" and a third stage circuit A of asequentially energizing circuit A, and respective fixed terminals ofcontacts 01, a2 and a3 of said relays Al, A2 and A3, and furtherconnected to collector of transistor T3 through resistor R7.

Other terminal of coil of relay Al is connected to emitter of transistorT1, and a movable terminal of the contact al of said relay A1 is alsoconnected to emitter of transistor T1 through resistor R1 and capacitorC1 and further connected to base of said transistor T1 through ajunction point between said resistor R1 and capacitor C1, and resistorR2.

The relay A2 is connected at other terminal of coil thereof to collectorof transistor T1, and a movable terminal of contact a2 of said relay A2is connected to a fixed terminal SW22a of the second hazard switch SW22through resistor R3 and capacitor C2, and further connected to base oftransistor T2 through a junction point between said resistor R3 andcapacitor C2, and through resistor R4.

A fixed terminal SW22b of the second hazard switch SW22 is left open.

In a similar manner, the relay A3 is connected at other terminal of coilthereof to collector of transistor T3, and a movable terminal of contacta3 of said relay A3 is connected to emitter of transistor T3 throughresistor R5 and capacitor C3, and further connected to base of saidtransistor T3 through a junction point between said resistor R5 andcapacitor C3, and through resistor R6.

Emitters of said transistors T1, T2 and T3 are connected to collector oftransistor T4 and further connected to a movable terminal SW220 of saidsecond hazard switch SW22 through junction points among said transistorsT1, T2 and T3.

Base of transistor T4 is connected to collector of transistor T3 andemitter of said transistor T4 is grounded.

Movable terminals of contacts 01, a2 and a3 of relays Al, A2 and A3 areconnected to a movable terminal SW230 of the third hazard switch SW23, afixed terminal SW24a of the fourth hazard switch SW24 and a movableterminal h20 of a second contact h2 of said relay H, respectively. Afixed terminal h2b of said second contact k2 is left open.

A fixed terminal SW23a of third hazard switch SW23 is connected to amovable terminal of a first contact ll of relay L, while a fixedterminal Ila of said first contact 11 is grounded through the load LLland another fixed terminal llb thereof is grounded through the load RLl.

A movable terminal SW240 of fourth hazard switch SW24 is connected to ajunction point between a movable terminal hi0 of a first contact hl ofrelay H and a movable contact of the second contact 12 of relay L, and afixed terminal SW24b of said fourth hazard switch SW24 is connected to amovable terminal h20 of a second contact h2 of relay H.

A fixed terminal hla of first contact hl of said relay H is connected toa fixed terminal 12a of second contact 12 of relay L. A junction pointtherebetween is connected to the load LL2 through the normal directionof diode D6 and a junction point between said diode D6 and the fixedterminal 12a is connected to the load LL4. These loads LL2 and LL4 aregrounded at the other sides thereof.

A fixed terminal hlb of first contact hl of relay H is left open.

A fixed terminal 12b of second contact 12 of relay L is connected to theload RL2 through the normal direction of diode D10, and a junction pointbetween said diode D10 and fixed terminal 12b is connected to the loadRL4, while these loads RL2 and RL4 are grounded at the other sidesthereof. A fixed terminal h2a of said second contact 112 of relay H isconnected to a movable terminal of third contact 13 of relay L, and afixed terminal 13a of said contact 13 is grounded through the load LL3.

The fixed terminal SW2la of first hazard switch SW21 is connected to ajunction point between a movable terminal of fourth contact [4 of relayL and a movable terminal r30 of third contact r3 of relay R through ajunction point between diode D1 and said terminal SW2la, and the diodeD1 and brake switch SW3.

A fixed terminal 14b of fourth contact 14 of relay L is connected topositive sides of respective loads LLl, LL2 and LL3 through the normaldirection of respective diodes D3, D4 and D5.

A fixed terminal r3b of third contact r3 of relay R is connected topositive sides of respective loads RLl, RL2 and RL3 through the non-naldirection of respective diodes D7, D8 and D9.

Fixed terminals 14a and r3a are left open.

The loads LL4 and RL4 are connected to one side of the pilot lamp PLthrough the normal direction of diodes D11 and D12, respectively, andthe pilot lamp PL is grounded at other side.

The thus connected electric circuit operates as follows.

I. In the case that the direction indicator switch SW1 is turned tocontact the movable contact SW10 with the fixed terminal SWla, currentflows from the potential source B to relay R through the fixed terminalSW2la, diode D1 and the fixed terminal SWla of direction indicatorswitch SW1, so that the relay R is actuated to excite the first, secondand third contacts r1, r2 and r3.

Thus, said secondcontact r2 is closed, and current flows to base oftransistor T4 through resistor R7 so that said transistor T4 becomesconductive, thereby actuating relay Al to move the contact a1 thereof toa closed position. Resultantly, current flows through the fixed terminalSW230 of third hazard switch SW23, the fixed terminal 1 lb of firstcontact 11 of relay L, thereby energizing the load RLl. By closing thecontact 01, current further flows through resistor R1 to chargecapacitor C1, so that current flows to base of transistor T1 to make itconductive, thereby actuating relay A2 to move the contact 02 thereof toa closed position. Thus, current flows through the movable terminalSW240 of fourth hazard switch SW24, the fixed terminal 12b of secondcontact 12 of relay L and diode D10, thereby energizing the loads RL2and RL4.

Current, when the contact 02 is closed, further flows through resistorR3 to charge capacitor C2, so that current flows to base of transistorT2 to make said transistor conductive, thereby actuating relay A3 tomove the contact 03 to a closed position.

Resultantly, current flows through the fixed terminal h2a of secondcontact 112 of relay H and the fixed contact 13b of third contact [3 ofrelay L, thereby energizing the load RL3.

It will be clearly understood that by the sequential actuation of relaysAl, A2 and A3, the loads RL1, RL2, RL4 and RL3 are energized in sequencethrough fixed terminals llb, 12b and 13b of first, second and thirdcontacts of relay L. That is to say, relay A1 of the first stage A isactuated simultaneously when transistor T4 becomes conductive, andrelays A2 and A3 of succeeding stages are actuated in succession at afixed time interval. Time interval or time lag between actuation of apreceding relay and that of succeeding relay depends upon time constantof resistor R and capacitor C. In detail, time lag between actuation ofsecond stage A" and that of third stage A' depends upon time constant ofresistor R1, capacitor C1, and resistor R3 and capacitor C2,respectively.

In the same way, relay A3 of the final stage is actuated to turn thecontact 03 to a closed position, and current flows through resistor R5to charge capacitor C3, so that current flows tobase of transistor T3through resistor R6, thereby transistor T3 becomes conductive, andtransistor T4, in turn, becomes nonconductive. As a result, current iscut off throughout circuits of respective stages.

Note that transistor T3 is maintained conductive and transistor T4 ismaintained nonconductive, after electric circuits of respective stageshave been turned nonconductive and until current discharge by capacitorC3 is finished.

As soon as this.current discharge of C3 is finished, the operation asdescribed above is performed, which is repetitive.

It is noted that the first contact r1 of relay R is turned to an openedposition by actuation of said relay R, so as to control operation ofrelay L.

Diode D2 is provided for preventing current flow to relay H when thefixed terminal SWla of direction indicator switch SW1 is closed.

In the case that the direction indicator switch SW1 is operatedleftwards to move the movable contact SW10 into contact with the fixedterminal SWlb, the relay L is actuated to turn each of first, second andthird contacts 11, I2 and 13 to a position opposite to that in theformer case, so that relays of respective stages A, A" and A aresequentially actuated to energize the loads LLl, LL2, LL4 and LL3successively.

. In this case, the sequentially energizing electric circuit A isconnected to the potential source B through the first or normally closedcontact r1 of relay R, and operation as described in the foregoingpassages is repeatedly performed. At this time the relay R is not heldactuated since the second contact r2 is now in the opened position. i

II. In the case that the brake switch SW3 is operated, for example, byoperating the brake pedal, current flows, through the fixed terminalSW2la of hazard switch SW21 and said brake switch SW3, from thepotential source B to the third contact r3 of relay R and the fourthcontact 14 of relay L, so that current flows through'two electriccircuits, that is, current flows from the fourth contact I4 to the loadsLLl, LL2 and LL3 through diodes D3, D4 and D5, respectively, therebyenergizing respective loads LLl, LL2 and LL3 and from the third contactr3 to loads RLl, RL2 and RL3 through diodes D7, D8 and D9, therebyenergizing respective loads RLl, RL2 and RL3.

It will be easily understandable that when the brake switch SW3 isclosed, six loads are simultaneously energized, but the loads LL4 andRL4 are not energized because current does not flow through the reversedirection of diodes D6 and D10, and therefore, the pilot lamp is notenergized.

III. In the case that the direction indicator switch SW1 and brakeswitch SW3 are operated simultaneously, that is, if the directionindicator switch SW1 is operated to turn the movable contact leftwardsor rightwards, either of relays L and R becomes actuated, so that eitherof third contact r3 of relay R and fourth contact 14 of relay L is movedto an opened position to break the corresponding circuit. Hence, if thebrake switch SW3 is closed, current from said switch SW3 flows only toone circuit where the contact is closed, but does not flow to othercircuit where the contact is opened. In consequence, either the leftgroup of lamps or the right are sequentially energized.

Meanwhile, the other group of lamps, excluding the lamps LL4 or RL4, areenergized simultaneously by operation of the brake switch SW3. In short,if the brake switch SW3 and direction indicator switch SW1 are operatedsimultaneously, one group of lamps on one side are energizedsequentially, while other group of lamps on other side aresimultaneously energized.

IV. Before considering the case in which a series of hazard switchesrespectively are turned to operative positions, note that these switchesSW21, SW22, SW23 and SW24 are normally maintained in closed positionswith their movable contacts SW210, SW220, SW230 and SW240 kept incontact with fixed terminals SW2la, SW220, SW23a and SW24a. Now, whenthese respective switches are turned over to operative positions to movethe movable contacts SW210, SW220, SW230 and SW240 into contact withother fixed terminals SW2lb, SW22b, SW23b and SW24b, the relays H and Rare actuated by SW21 to turn the second contact r2 of said relay R to aclosed position, whereby current fiows to the sequentially energizingcircuit A. The first contact rl of relay R is moved to an openedposition, hence the relay L is not actuated.

The second hazard switch SW22, of which movable contact SW220contactswith the fixed terminal SW22b, acts to cut off I connectionbetween capacitor C2 and emitter ot'transistor T2, and resultantly,relay A2 of second stage A" and relay A3 of third stage A are actuatedat the same time. The third hazard switch SW23 is turned to the openedposition to cut off current flow to the loads LLll and RlLl.Consequently, the loads LL! and R21. are not energized at this time.

The fourth hazard switch SW24 acts to turn the electric circuit A" ofsecond stage to the circuit A' of third stage, current flows to theloads [L2 and LEA through the movable contact 11H] now in contact withthe fixed contact hla' by actuation of relay H, thereby energizing theloads LL2 and HA.

The movable contact 120 of second contact 12 is held in its initialposition in contact with the fixed terminal 125, so that the loads R111and RM are energized, meanwhile since the second contact [12 of relay His turned opened at this time, the loads LL3 and RLS are not energized.

When the hazard switches are in their active positions, the circuitincluding the potential source B, the direction indicator switch SW1 andbrake switch SW3 is cut off. Therefore, if the direction indicatorswitch SW1 is turned to contact the movable contact SWIG with the fixedterminal SW11), and the brake switch SW3 is turned to a closed position,neither the relay L is actuated, nor loads connected to the brakecircuit are energized.

If the direction indicator switch SW1, however, is turned to contact itsmovable contact SW11: with the fixed terminal SW la, current flowsthrough the movable terminal SW10, but does not flow through the diodeD1 interconnected in the reverse direction,

In short, a series of hazard switches SW21, SW22, SW23 and SW24 act toenergize or deenergize the loads LL2, LIA, and RL2, RL4. It is obviousthat, when these hamrd switches are in operative positions, thedirection indicator switch SW1 and brake switch SW3, if turned tooperative positions, do not affect on operation of said switches. Thepilot lamp PL is energized through the normal direction of diode D11 andD12 only when the loads LL4 and R14 are energized.

The electric circuit of the present invention so constructed that, in agroup of lamps for combination use as direction indicator lamps, hazardlamps and brake lamps, selective energization of lamps is permitted byoperating any switch for intended lamps; in the case that all switchesare simultaneously operated, direction indicator lamps arepreferentially energized; energization or deenergization of these lampsis effected by plural relays; in the case that plural hazard switchesare operated, predetermined lamps of left and right sides are energizedor deenergized simultaneously, irrespective of operation of eitherdirection indicator switch or brake switch.

The electric circuit having such construction has ad vantages that thestructure is simple and its manufacturing cost is low.

What We claim is:

1. An electric circuit for selectively energizing two groups of lampssymmetrically arranged on a vehicle adjacent the left and right sidesthereof, respectively, comprising a brake switch operable by the brakeof said vehicle,

a direction indicator switch manually movable selectively intoengagement with first and second contacts, respectively, selectively tosupply power thereto from a power source,

a transistor operative to be switched from a nonconductive to aconductive state, when said indicator switch is engagedwith: one of saidcontacts,

a sequentially energizing circuit for cyclically and succes sivelyenergizing the lamps of one of said groups, when said transistor isconducting,

a first relay connected to one of said contacts of said directionindicator switch and having a first set of confor selectively connectingeach of said groups of lamps to the corresponding stages of saidsequentially energizing circuit, and having a firrther contact connectedbetween said brake switch and one of said groups of s, a secon relayconnected to the other contact of said direction indicator switch andhaving a first set of contacts between said contacts of said directionindicator switch and said sequentially energizing circuit, and having afirrther contact connected between said brake switch and the otherofsaicl groups of lamps, and a group of hazard switches comprising afirst switch connected between said power source and said second relayand adapted to connect said sequentially energin'ng cirsuit to saidpower source through one of said first set of contacts of said secondrelay, when said second relay is energized, a second switch connectedbetween selected lamps of each group thereof and said sequentiallyenergizing circuit, and firrther switches connected between the lampsother than said selected lamps and said sequentially energizing saiddirection indicator switch being operable to actuate said transistor andselectively to energize one of said relays and resultantly to actuatesaid sequentially. energizing circuit through one ofsaid first set ofcontacts of said second relay to apply an output ofeacb stage of saidsequentially energizing circuit selectively toone of said groups oflamps through said first set of contacts of said first relay, therebyperforming a sequential lighting ofthe lamps of the last-named group,

said group of hazard switches being operable to energize said secondrelay by the operation of said one switch thereby to actuate saidsequentially energizing circuit, and to disconnect said lamps other thansaid selected lamps from said sequentially energizing circuit by theoperation of said further switches, and electrically to connect onlysaid selected lamps to said sequentially energizing circuit by theoperation of said second switch, thereby performing a flashing of theselected lamps only, and means responsive to the operation of said brakeswitch to light all the lamps through said further contacts of saidrelays, when the latter are not energized, 2. An electric circuit forselectively energizing lamps of a vehicle as claimed in claim I, whereineach of said stages comprises a transistor, a relay and a time constantcircuit formed of a resistor and a condenser, and said group of hazardswitches further comprises a switch connected between the condensers ofat least one of the respecfive stages of said sequentially energizingcircuit, except the condenser of the final stage, and one of the commonlines of said multistage circuit, thereby to disconnect said at leastone of said condensers from a grounding line.

1. An electric circuit for selectively energizing two groups of lampssymmetrically arranged on a vehicle adjacent the left and right sidesthereof, respectively, comprising a brake switch operable by the brakeof said vehicle, a direction indicator switch manually movableselectively into engagement with first and second contacts,respectively, selectively to supply power thereto from a power source, atransistor operative to be switched from a nonconductive to a conductivestate, when said indicator switch is engaged with one of said contacts,a sequentially energizing circuit for cyclically and successivelyenergizing the lamps of one of said groups, when said transistor isconducting, a first relay connected to one of said contacts of saiddirection indicator switch and having a first set of contacts forselectively connecting each of said groups of lamps to the correspondingstages of said sequentially energizing circuit, and having a furthercontact connected between said brake switch and one of said groups oflamps, a second relay connected to the other contact of said directionindicator switch and having a first set of contacts between saidcontacts of said direction indicator switch and said sequentiallyenergizing circuit, and having a further contact connected between saidbrake switch and the other of said groups of lamps, and a group ofhazard switches comprising a first switch connected between said powersource and said second relay and adapted to connect said sequentiallyenergizing circuit to said power source through one of said first set ofcontacts of said second relay, when said second relay is energized, asecond switch connected between selected lamps of each group thereof andsaid sequentially energizing circuit, and further switches connectedbetween the lamps other than said selected lamps and said sequentiAllyenergizing circuit, said direction indicator switch being operable toactuate said transistor and selectively to energize one of said relaysand resultantly to actuate said sequentially energizing circuit throughone of said first set of contacts of said second relay to apply anoutput of each stage of said sequentially energizing circuit selectivelyto one of said groups of lamps through said first set of contacts ofsaid first relay, thereby performing a sequential lighting of the lampsof the last-named group, said group of hazard switches being operable toenergize said second relay by the operation of said one switch therebyto actuate said sequentially energizing circuit, and to disconnect saidlamps other than said selected lamps from said sequentially energizingcircuit by the operation of said further switches, and electrically toconnect only said selected lamps to said sequentially energizing circuitby the operation of said second switch, thereby performing a flashing ofthe selected lamps only, and means responsive to the operation of saidbrake switch to light all the lamps through said further contacts ofsaid relays, when the latter are not energized.
 2. An electric circuitfor selectively energizing lamps of a vehicle as claimed in claim 1,wherein each of said stages comprises a transistor, a relay and a timeconstant circuit formed of a resistor and a condenser, and said group ofhazard switches further comprises a switch connected between thecondensers of at least one of the respective stages of said sequentiallyenergizing circuit, except the condenser of the final stage, and one ofthe common lines of said multistage circuit, thereby to disconnect saidat least one of said condensers from a grounding line.